So that a decision about your application can be made as quickly as possible, your application must be completed in full and the relevant documentary evidence included for all the information provided in the application (please refer to the notes in the application). Incomplete information and missing documents, such as about members of the household, housing costs or income, will be followed up as necessary, thus extending the processing time. If you have questions about housing benefit in general or about your pending application, you can call the central Housing Benefit Hotline.
Due to the large number of housing benefit applications, processing your application could take some time. Please be patient. Longer processing times do not mean you will lose out. You will receive a backdated payment of housing benefit for the period since your application was made. This is based on the month in which your application was received by the housing benefit office.
Please only use one route for making your application (online, email or by post). Applying simultaneously via different channels will make the processing time longer overall.
